Captain Zheng Zhi was reduced to tears and fans called for wholesale sackings after China's campaign to qualify for the 2010 World Cup fizzled out with a 1-2 defeat to Iraq in Tianjin on Saturday.

After missing out on South Africa, China's next World Cup opportunity in Brazil 2014 will probably be too late for players in their late 20s such as Zheng.

"We didn't play well enough, I am very sad," the Charlton Athletic midfielder told CCTV as he wiped away tears of disappointment.

The moribund state of Chinese football was reflected in the half-empty Olympic Stadium, which was built to host soccer matches for the Beijing Games this August and the venue for China's final two home games in Asian qualifying Group 1.

The 30,000 or so fans who did pay out to watch a second defeat in as many weeks at the impressive arena were quick to turn on those they deemed responsible.

"Sack! Sack! Sack!" they shouted after Iraq took the lead while hundreds gathered outside after the match angrily calling for the team and the entire Chinese Football Association (CFA) to be dismissed as well as an apology from CFA chief Xie Yalong.

Vladimir Petrovic, who has had charge of the team under fellow Serb and China Olympic coach Ratomir Dujkovic since last year, said he thought his players had not shown sufficient composure in the two matches in Tianjin.

"We have young players who needed to calm down a bit," he told reporters. "I think nerves cost us the two games. The players had too much pressure on them."

Petrovic said he thought the group stage of the qualifying campaign, during which China has so far failed to win a match and scored only two goals, had not been a complete failure. "I think we have discovered many young players who will play in the Olympic Games and are the bright future of Chinese football."

Asked if he would still be in charge for China's final group match in Australia on Sunday, Petrovic grinned, "I think so, I think so."

Another Serbian coach at the match was Bora Milutinovic, who took the Chinese to their only appearance at the World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan in 2002.

"It's always sad when you don't go through," he said. "I hope they find a way to get back to the top, 2000 to 2002 were wonderful but things are very different now."

Meanwhile, heavyweights Saudi Arabia, Iran, Australia, Japan and both Koreas marched into the final round of Asian qualifiers after clinching decisive wins on Saturday.

They were joined in the last 10 by Group 2 leader Bahrain after it drew 1-1 with Oman, and early qualifier Uzbekistan, with two more places to be decided in the final round of matches this weekend.

One of those spots will go to either Qatar or Asian champion Iraq, who face each other in a tense final Group 1 match in Dubai on Sunday.

The UAE looks most likely to take the second Group 5 slot after its 3-2 win over Kuwait left it needing only a draw to progress.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily June 16, 2008)